100 years ago, The Battle of Loos

Battle Of Loos 24th Sep – 18th Oct 1915

Sometimes life can be hectic, too busy to pay attention to what is around us. Other times there are signs to make sure we don’t miss out…
Towards the end of last month we had to have some electrical work carried out in the sanctuary. As our electrician lifted floorboards to work under the pews he began to notice red coloured flashes from the corner of his eye. Turning round, he realised it was colouring the area of the church around where he was working and was coming from the window. The autumn sun was hitting the magnificent stained glass in just the right way. Being drawn to admire the artwork more closely he noticed this particular window commemorates Captain William McLeod McMillan of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, killed at the Battle of Loos exactly 100 years ago. Touched by this, especially the significance of the date, he mentioned it to Margaret Auld who went out to the church gardens to cut some flowers to place by the window, and opened the remembrance book at the page with William’s name inscribed.
The Battle of Loos was the largest British battle that took place in 1915 on the Western Front during World War I, lasting from late-September to mid-October 1915. Captain McMillan was in the 11th Battalion of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and died at the age of 39. He was the eldest son of Robert McMillan, shipbuilder in Dumbarton and at the time of his death was chairman and managing director of the family firm, Archibald McMillan and Son, Ltd. In 1904 Captain McMillan had married Catherine Young Denny, daughter of James Denny, shipbuilder, a director of the other major shipbuilding family in Dumbarton, William Denny and Brothers, Ltd. Captain McMillan was survived by his widow and two sons.

Categories

Join us on Facebook

Click on the image below to jump to our facebook page:

Archives

Archives

Riverside is a vibrant and active church that worships in the centre of Dumbarton. Our main service is held every Sunday morning.

Riverside, in Dumbarton's town centre, brings together people of all ages at our weekly service on Sunday mornings and extends Christian fellowship throughout the week with various groups and activities in our extensive hall complex.
We have a whole range of different activities including Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, Scouts and Boys' Brigade, ladies keep-fit and badminton, indoor bowling and groups for women on a Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon, with both a Playgroup and a Parent and Toddlers Group.
Every Tuesday there is a soup and sandwich lunch, and a range of different social activities.